Ōhakuri Dam#Power station

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox dam

| name = Ōhakuri Dam

| name_official =

| image = Ohakuri Dam.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = Ōhakuri dam and powerhouse from the north.

| image_alt =

| location_map = New Zealand

| location_map_size =

| location_map_caption =

| location_map_alt =

| coordinates = {{coord|38|24|30|S|176|5|22|E|type:landmark_region:NZ|display=inline,title}}

| country = New Zealand

| location = Between Taupō, Rotorua, and Hamilton

| purpose = P

| status = O

| construction_began =

| opening = 1961

| demolished =

| cost =

| owner = Mercury Energy

| operator =

| dam_type = earth dam with concrete gravity sections for the intake and spillway structures{{Cite web|url=http://www.mightyriverpower.co.nz/generation/aboutus/hydrostations/ohakuri/Technical.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610041531/http://www.mightyriverpower.co.nz/generation/aboutus/hydrostations/ohakuri/Technical.aspx|archive-date=10 June 2011|title=03. Ohakuri}}

| dam_crosses = Waikato River

| dam_height =

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| dam_elevation_crest =

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| dam_volume =

| spillway_count =

| spillway_type =

| spillway_capacity =

| res_name = Lake Ohakuri

| res_capacity_total =

| res_capacity_active =

| res_capacity_inactive=

| res_catchment =

| res_surface = {{convert|12|km2|abbr=on}}

| res_max_length =

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| plant_name = Ōhakuri Power Station

| plant_coordinates =

| plant_operator = Mercury Energy

| plant_commission =

| plant_decommission =

| plant_type =

| plant_hydraulic_head =

| plant_turbines = 4× 28 MW Francis turbine

| plant_capacity = {{convert|112|MW|abbr=on}}

| plant_capacity_factor=

| plant_annual_gen =

| website =

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}}

{{Commons category|Ohakuri Dam}}

The Ōhakuri Dam is a dam and hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, central North Island, New Zealand, midway between Taupō, Rotorua and Hamilton. Its dam is about {{convert|5|km}} upstream of the Atiamuri Dam.

It was commissioned in 1961 and construction was organised from the 'hydro town' of Mangakino.[http://www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz/reports/viewchapter.asp?reportID=ad61afe4-9943-41f1-8872-7435b1ab83b8&chapter=74 Section 16.3] (from the [http://www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz/reports/summary.asp?reportid={AD61AFE4-9943-41F1-8872-7435B1AB83B8} Pouakani Report 1993], Waitangi Tribunal. Accessed 2008-01-16.) The dam eventually created Lake Ohakuri, the largest artificial lake on the Waikato,{{cite web| url=http://www.mightyriverpower.co.nz/generation/aboutus/hydrostations/ohakuri/default.aspx| title=Ohakuri| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927043038/http://www.mightyriverpower.co.nz/generation/aboutus/hydrostations/ohakuri/default.aspx| url-status=dead| archive-date=27 September 2011| publisher=Mighty River Power| access-date=13 February 2008}} which drowned two thirds of the Orakei Korako geothermal area as well as hot springs and wahi tapu (Māori sacred sites) at Te Ohaaki. Creation of the dam forced Ngāti Tahu to relocate their Ohaaki Marae.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10594601|title=Sinking marae's iwi upset at second forced shift|last=Ihaka|first=James|date=2 September 2009|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=2009-09-02}} The submerged area also included Minginui Geyser and Orakei Korako Geyser, two of the world's largest geysers.[http://www.wyojones.com/tall.htm Tall Geysers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125042940/http://www.wyojones.com/tall.htm |date=25 November 2010 }}, Minority Geoscience Program, University of New Orleans. Accessed 2008-02-13.

The construction in the face of these negative effects was considered justified at the time due to the serious electricity shortages plaguing the country after World War II, and by the fact that laws requiring public participation or consultation were not introduced until much later. While compensation to Māori land owners was paid based on the land take rules of the Public Works Act, the damage to the inhabitants of the area was to form basis of further legal actions under the Waitangi Tribunal legislation many years later.